MacNair: Unitarians speak on ICE arrests

Posted: Thursday, May 06, 2010

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The Social Action Committee of the Unitarian Universalist Fellowship of Athens is deeply saddened that a federal Immigration and Customs Enforcement officer arrested two immigrant fathers in Athens-Clarke County on April 28, as reported by the Banner-Herald in a May 1 story headlined "Immigrants swept up in ICE operation."

It has been the policy of President Barack Obama's administration to seek out only dangerous criminals for deportation. According to neighbors and relatives in Pinewood North Mobile Home Park, where the two men were arrested last week, the ICE agent may have been looking for previous residents. The individuals who were arrested apparently had no histories of dangerous criminal activity.

Family members report that the officer knocked on two doors looking for someone else, asked the men for legal papers, and when the men did not have them, he arrested them. A pregnant mother, another mother and a total of five children were watching while the two fathers were arrested.

The families are broken and devastated, and these arrests appear to contradict federal policy. The fear is intense, and it is contagious. There are estimated to be more than 10,000 such individuals in this community, and law enforcement breaks down when people feel that fear.

We urge the Athens community to protest this incident, as it puts all undocumented families in Athens at risk. At the same time, support for the families is needed.

Ray MacNair

• Ray MacNair is a member of the Social Action Committee of the Unitarian Universalist Fellowship of Athens.